Maidenhead & Windsor

Police in Maidenhead will be giving the red card to rowdy football fans who get drunk and disorderly during the World Cup.

In a joint initiative to reduce alcohol-related crime during the month-long tournament, police have worked with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to obtain a dispersal order.

The order comes into effect at 4pm on Friday 9 June, and will remain in force until 7am on Sunday 11 July. It covers Maidenhead town centre, defined as the whole of Queen Street to the High Street; the High Street to King Street; King Street to the junction with Queen Street; Market Street and West Street.

From Friday 9 June onwards, police and police community support officers (PCSOs) will be able to tell groups of people of any age to disperse, to leave the designated areas and, if they don’t live there, not to return to the area for 24 hours. Refusal to comply with these instructions is punishable by fines of up to £2,500 or three months imprisonment.

If a person is under 16, is in the designated area between 9pm and 6am, and is not under the control of a responsible adult, police and PCSOs have the power to take them back to their home address.

Supt Dan Hale, commander of Windsor and Maidenhead police area, said: “We want people to enjoy watching the World Cup in town centre venues, but we also want to send out a strong message that they must behave themselves after the matches have ended.

“During the last World Cup in 2002, and again during the European Championship in 2004, Maidenhead town centre saw an increase in drink-fuelled offences, such as affray and assaults, damage to shop windows and numerous reports of late-night drunkenness around licensed premises.

“This year, we’re putting measures in place to nip any trouble in the bud. The dispersal order will enable us to break up rowdy groups before their behaviour deteriorates into fighting or vandalism.”

PC Dougie Pye, anti-social behaviour officer, said: “There will be high-profile policing in Maidenhead town centre throughout the tournament, with zero tolerance of drunken misbehaviour. In addition, we will be checking for illegal drugs using the Itemiser, a new portable machine that can carry out up to 80 drug tests an hour.

“We expect an increase in people visiting town centre bars during the World Cup. While we hope the football fans have a good time, it’s our job to keep the streets of Maidenhead safe for everyone. The dispersal order means we are well-prepared for the kick-off.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Cream teas, information stalls, bowling, an open day and a focus on Asian women's health are just some of the events lined up in the Maidenhead Royal Borough to mark national Carers Week (June 12 - 18).

The full programme of events has been drawn together by a local Maidenhead steering group made up of many of the borough's voluntary and carer organisations. The theme of the week is In Sickness and in Health, which aims to highlight the effects that caring can have on carers' own health and well-being and encourage more carers to seek support from local services.

With as many as 11,000 of the Maidenhead Royal Borough's carers looking after a sick or disabled friend, partner or relative some are not aware of the services available to them. Events during Carers Week will help to promote the support available locally.

Michaela Helman, of the Maidenhead Royal Borough's Carers Link, said: "We welcome everyone in the local community to the events programme – especially if they have caring responsibilities themselves. Many carers find it useful to meet people who are in a similar situation, share experiences and find out more about local support and services."

Penny Henrion, chief executive of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: "It is so important that family carers look after their own health. If they go under, there are two people needing help – the carer and the person they care for! We are delighted that this year's Carers Week will focus on supporting carers to look after themselves and that we can offer them a bit of pampering too - they deserve it"

Maidenhead Cllr Pam Proctor, the Royal Borough's lead member for social services, said she was delighted so see such an extensive programme aimed specifically at carers.

Maidenhead Cllr Proctor said: "We owe carers a great debt of gratitude for the work they do willingly and selflessly. Their dedication and commitment are beyond price and I hope these events will give them food for thought, some tender loving care for themselves and the knowledge that they are very much appreciated."

Soline Jerram, consultant nurse for older people and intermediate care at Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "Caring for the carer is an important part of supporting people so that they can remain at home. To help with this we have started a course to provide practical support to carers, particularly those who are new to the role, and help them look after their own health and well-being."

Carers activities are funded by the Royal Borough, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Maidenhead Multiple Sclerosis Society, with the programme organised by the Carers Partnership Board working together with carers, Princess Royal Trust Carers Service, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Primary Care Trust and the Carers Week Steering Group.

The Carers Week Steering Group is make up of representatives from The Royal Borough, the PCT, Maidenhead MENCAP, Maidenhead Multiple Sclerosis Society, Crossroads, Age Concern Windsor, Community Mental Health Team, Milaap Asian Women's Group, East Berkshire MIND Mental Health Promotion Team and many more.

aCARERS WEEK June 12 – 18 2006
Programme of events in the Royal Borough

In the week immediately before Carers Week there will be a series of information stands staffed by members of local voluntary and carer organisations:
Wednesday June 7 (9.30am -12 noon) – Cox Green Community Centre
Thursday June 8 (11am -3pm) – Windsor Royal Shopping Centre
Friday June 9 (9.30am -12 noon) – Peascod Street, Windsor and
(1pm - 3.30pm) – Waitrose Supermarket, Sunninghill
Saturday June 10 (9 am - 4pm) Maidenhead Carnival, town centre, Maidenhead.

Carers Week Programme

* Monday June 12 – (2pm - 5.pm) Cream Tea Party, Dorney Lake. Sponsored by the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the party is open to carers, voluntary and carer organisations offering a delightful cream tea in a beautiful setting beside Dorney Lake. Carers should contact their local support group worker for further details.
* Tuesday June 13 – (12.30pm - 3pm) Milaap Asian Women's Health Promotion, St Joseph's Hall, Maidenhead, offering a range of health checks, information stalls, therapies, entertainment and dancing – not to mention a health conscious buffet.
* Wednesday June 14 – (11am - 3.30pm) Information stand, Nicholson's Shopping Centre, Maidenhead.
* Thursday June 15 – (9.30am -12 noon) Information Stand, Elizabeth House, Cookham Rise.
* Friday June 16 – (11am - 3pm) Carers' Open Day, Desborough Suite, Town Hall, Maidenhead, offering therapies, fitness demonstrations, taster training sessions, information stands, free raffle and buffet lunch.

Details about these events will be publicised in hospitals and GP surgeries, community and leisure centres, and many shops, libraries and places of worship in the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead area.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Larchfield's popular Desborough Park, Maidenhead is undergoing a springtime improvement programme, providing new opportunities for local people of all ages to enjoy the leisure facilities.

The improvements follow a widespread consultation with residents, young people, youth workers and community wardens to find out how they felt the Maidenhead park should be overhauled to best cater for their different needs – and the improvements reflect their highest priorities.

Work has now started on the five-week contract which will see the installation of two multi-games areas, with new goals, basketball hoops and graduated fencing to keep balls in – and dogs out! As well as football and basketball, the areas will be suitable for cricket. There will also be an adjacent youth meeting point to provide a sheltered area where young people can get together.

Further Maidenhead improvements later this year will include the planting of more than 20 trees and come next spring the park will be a blaze of colour, thanks to more than 2,000 bulbs to be planted by local children during the autumn. There are also plans to return the old and dilapidated tennis courts to grass for everyone to enjoy.

Maidenhead Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for leisure and cultural services, said he was delighted that improvements to Desborough Park were now forging ahead.

He said: "Desborough Park is a focal point in the Larchfield area of Maidenhead and very well used by local people of all ages. We have had a useful and productive consultation with park users, residents, community wardens and youth workers and I would like to thank them for their very helpful comments. We have used their priorities as our guide for what should be included in the improvement programme."

The current work on Desborough Park, entirely funded by Section 106 contributions from developments in the area, will be completed in time for the school holidays when two of the council's youth team will be there every weekday between 11am and 4pm to run football and basketball sessions as part of the borough's 13-19 summer programme.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 4th June- 10th June2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

4th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:45 am
Lunchtime Concert: Angela Brownridge
* 3:00 pm
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (15)
* 7:30 pm
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (15)

5th June at Maidenhead

No events planned

6th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The World’s Fastest Indian (12A)

7th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The Child (18)
* 7:45 pm
Quint

8th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Robin Ince’s Book Club

9th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Big Band
* 8:00 pm
The James Keelaghan Trio

10th June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 3:00 pm
White Countess (PG)
* 7:30 pm
White Countess (PG)

Helpful hints and advice on water conservation from Maidenhead Royal Borough mean that gardeners are once again "digging for victory" in the annual Garden in Bloom competition – despite the current water shortage.

The timely tips and simple advice feature on leaflets being distributed to Maidenhead green-fingered enthusiasts taking part in this year's award scheme to find the best local front gardens.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services said this week: "We all have to think very carefully about how we use water more efficiently during the current water shortage – and there are particular challenges for gardeners trying to beautify their borders for the Garden in Bloom competition.

"This current situation gives gardeners a great opportunity to consider using plants in their gardens that can survive with much less water – and the council is doing its best to help by issuing leaflets with some simple water conservation tips for gardeners to follow.

"Garden in Bloom is always a wonderful way of encouraging residents to create gardens for the rest of us to enjoy – so let's enjoy this year's unique challenge and wish all the entrants every success. "

Now in its 14th successful year, Maidenhead Garden in Bloom acknowledges the important contribution private front gardens make to the appearance of towns and villages – and organisers are urging residents to nominate either their own or neighbours front gardens for consideration in the scheme.

Judging takes place in July on a ward-by-ward basis, with ward councillors nominating a winner and runner-up in each of the borough's 23 wards.

They will be judging the gardens on design and impact, originality, colour and variety of plants maintenance and presentation and special features – which this year will
include topical water-conservation measures.

Winners and runners-up in each ward will go forward to the borough-wide Garden in Bloom competition, with one garden selected as the overall Maidenhead winner.

Garden in Bloom nomination forms and leaflets, including water conservation tips, are available at civic offices, libraries, leisure centres, garden centres, parish council offices and on the Royal Borough website at rbwm.gov.uk

Simple water conservation tips on Maidenhead Royal Borough's leaflets include:
· use grey water (washing up water, bath water and vegetable water) to water plants
· store rainwater in water butts or large tanks
· use a mulch to keep the soil free of weeds
· water in the evening - and around plant roots – to reduce evaporation loss
· plant trees, shrubs and climbers in autumn to reduce the need for watering and give plants a greater chance to establish.

Closing date for nominations is June 30. A special awards ceremony will be held in the autumn.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Pets, Inc. is a newly formed business in Maidenhead offering a professional pet sitting service for your pets at home.

A small family run business, Pets, Inc. launches its Maidenhead service concentrating on providing a flexible, friendly & reliable pet care service for cats, dogs and small animals in their own home. Daily and weekly* services include: cat visits; dog walking; small animal care (included rabbits/fish/mice/gerbils) and a pet to vet / taxi service.

Covering the Maidenhead area and surrounding villages as far out as Bisham & Marlow, Pets, Inc. will not only care for your pets at home but will also carry out home services too. HomeTidy is a sure fire way of ending your holiday on a high. Not having to do the post holiday shopping, the company will even get your daily essentials such as bread, milk, eggs etc and also wine in for you so you have it ready and waiting when you get home. A quick tidy of the house is also a job that most of us dread when coming back from that holiday in the sun so they will also do the hovering, dusting, watering of the outside plants and garden so you don’t have to!

The Maidenhead company was set up by Brandy Renton. Originally from Hawaii, Brandy has been a resident in the UK for over 13 years. Married to Charles, who she calls her ‘Englishman’, she has recently given up her high flying marketing job to realise her life long dream of working with animals. Tired of the corporate world, Brandy has decided to take that step into running her own company and working for herself!

Brandy has over 35 years experience with pets, having owned them all her life – both in the US and England. She now has two cats of her own – Tiggy and Calico both were rescue cats. Rest assured, her confident but friendly nature will be picked up by your pets so they will no doubt feel relaxed and totally cared for whilst you’re away.

So don’t fret about taking that break, your pets will be totally cared for and spoilt rotten! Competitive prices, fully insured and policed checked. Outstanding references available.

Contact Maidenhead Pets, Inc. on:
07799 596 730 or 01628 789 740
Email enquiries@petsinc.co.uk

Busy Bees at Maidenhead Hall Place
Berkshire College of Agriculture
Burchetts Green
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 6QR
01628 825 230

Parents with children from 3 months to 5 years will be delighted to learn that Busy Bees at Hall Place have relocated to an exceptional new purpose designed nursery within the college grounds. The nursery opened on 2nd May 2006 and bookings are still being taken but places are filling up fast.

The nursery is fully equipped to a very high standard, with plenty of secure outdoor space including all weather areas. The nursery also benefits from the excellent partnership between BCA and Busy Bees allowing children access to the outstanding facilities.

Our Philosophy

The nursery has been designed to create a loving and caring environment within stimulating surroundings and health and safety is given the highest priority.

We believe that every child deserves the best start in life and at Busy Bees Hall Place we are committed to meeting the needs of the children and their families. Our creative programs of activities provided by our highly qualified and experienced staff team are designed to enable each child to reach his or her full potential. A structured approach to learning and play in a protected and happy environment ensures that our children flourish. We offer the widest range of toys, materials and equipment, which are suited to every age and stage of development.

Children at The Heart of The Nursery

There are 7 different rooms, each dedicated to a specific age group, ensuring that children are able to mix happily with their peers. Every child is allocated their own key worker, who spends time getting to know them personally.

We maintain individual development records called trackers for each child which detail exactly how each child has progressed in a wide variety of skills. We take care to regularly discuss these with parents, as we believe a strong relationship should be developed with our families. We also schedule parents’ evenings and other special events that involve the whole family. It’s important that parents feel the facility and staff are accessible and approachable.”

The nursery is Ofsted registered and fully complies with all of the relevant legislation.

Busy Bees at Maidenhead Hall Place: 01628 825 230

The Maidenhead Royal Borough will once again be "blooming beautiful" with hanging baskets and floral bedding displays this summer thanks to the council's proactive and "responsible approach" to the current water shortage.

Contractors will this week begin putting up the annual array of hanging baskets at sites across the Maidenhead borough and preparing flowerbeds for summer planting - as the council reassures residents that every effort is being made to minimise the use of treated water supplies.

Maidenhead Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for leisure and cultural services said: "We are acutely aware of our responsibilities during this current water shortage and have taken a robust and responsible approach to enable us to provide the usual high standard of colourful and luxuriant hanging baskets and flower beds which our residents have come to expect and enjoy without depleting essential water supplies.

"Maintenance of hanging baskets and flower beds is exempt from the current hosepipe ban, but we are determined to minimise any impact on the treated water supplies in our area and have been working closely with the water authorities and the Environment Agency to achieve this. The borough will continue to monitor the latest advice from the water authorities and take further guidance from them should the situation change to work with them to support their restrictions should these change.

"I am sure that this summer's displays will be every bit as eye-catching as they have been in previous years and will give a great deal of pleasure to our residents and visitors alike."

Steps being taken by contractors Windowflowers Ltd to reduce water use in hanging baskets include:

· watering baskets "little and often" (rather than larger weekly waterings) - either in early morning or evening to reduce evaporation loss

· double-lining baskets and incorporating water reservoirs to reduce drying out

· using more water-retaining granules to release moisture slowly to avoid compost drying out

· including more drought-tolerant plants in baskets.

Similar steps are being taken by contractors ISS Waterers Landscape who are responsible for the Maidenhead borough's public flowerbeds. They will implement early-morning watering, use drought-tolerant plants to reduce the need for watering and use untreated non-drinking water supplies to water the plants wherever possible.

For further information contact Liz Cronin, Maidenhead landscape officer on 01628 796133.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 28th May - 3rd June2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

28th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 3:00 pm
Shooting Dogs (15)
* 7:30 pm
Shooting Dogs (15)

29th May at Maidenhead

No events planned

30th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:30 pm
MirrorMask (PG)
* 7:30 pm
MirrorMask (PG)

31st May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Reduced Shakespeare Company presents Completely Hollywood
* Workshops and other events
* 7:00 pm
Reading Group

1st June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Transamerica (15)

2nd June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Kamal Sabri

3rd June at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Rick Payne
* 8:00 pm
Laura Solon

Spot checks on black taxis and minicabs operating in the Maidenhead Royal Borough last Saturday night (May 13) left council licensing officers "very encouraged" by the high standard of vehicles put under the spotlight.

The joint operation involved the licensing teams from both the Maidenhead Royal Borough and Slough Borough Council, Thames Valley Police and and VOSA (the MOT specialists) and it saw 40 vehicles checked during the evening.

Police officers on vehicle patrol in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead stopped drivers of both hackney carriages (black taxis) and private hire cars (minicabs) who were directed to the check point at Dedworth. There they came under the scrutiny of the VOSA inspection team to ensure the vehicles' roadworthiness, followed by checks carried out by the police and the local authority licensing officers.

Maidenhead Cllr Wilson Hendry, chairman of the Royal Borough's licensing panel, said he was pleased by the success of this joint operation. "Our aim is to ensure that when people hail or call a cab they will be getting into a vehicle that is not only properly licensed but is safe and roadworthy. Saturday night's operation showed no serious defects on the cars called in for checking and is a very encouraging result."

Gillian Ralphs, assistant director of transport and planning for Slough Borough Council, said: "The combined operations between ourselves, the police and Windsor and Maidenhead taxi licensing officers and VOSA are proving very effective in ensuring the safety and comfort of all of our residents who just want to get home after a night out."

Acting chief inspector Pete Carter, of Slough local police area, said: "Our roads policing officers were very pleased with the high standards found during the taxi checks on Saturday night. However, we are aware of frustrations amongst taxi drivers in Slough about the way the operation was conducted. A meeting has been arranged on Friday 19 May to address their concerns. It will be attended by senior police officers, local council licensing officers and taxi drivers."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Schools across Maidenhead borough which are opening their doors even wider to pupils, their families and the local community will soon benefit from additional funding to help them develop their extended services.

The extended Maidenhead school programme is part of a national initiative to bring about a significant change in how schools are used and the Royal Borough has secured funding from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to help schools provide a new range of services, such as breakfast, homework and after-school clubs, adult learning, childcare, parenting support and convenient access to other services.

To get the extended schools programme off the ground locally two Maidenhead schools clusters were formed last year – centred on Dedworth in Windsor and on Desborough/Ellington schools in Maidenhead. With the help of funding secured from the DfES they have already made significant progress – and now a report to cabinet next Thursday (May 25) proposes further allocation of the government funding to potential clusters of schools in the second wave of boosting the extended schools initiative.

Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for Maidenhead education, underlined the key role schools play in their respective communities.

She said: "The Royal Borough has been fortunate in securing funding from the DfES and we aim to use that money to support schools in cluster areas to extend their services for the benefit of pupils, their families and local people. Clusters work by encouraging schools to provide different and complementary services so that their pupils and wider communities can access a wide range of support and help with the minimum amount of duplication."

Maidenhead Cllr Pitteway added: "We are already seeing very positive developments in areas where the clusters have been working for over a year and I believe this additional cash injection will boost extended schools and make them key features of community life throughout the borough."

Following the Maidenhead borough's extended schools conference in March, schools were invited to express interest in taking the initiative forward in their areas. As a result the proposed clusters and their funding allocation are going to cabinet for approval as follows:

* Datchet cluster (Churchmead Secondary, Wraysbury Primary and Datchet St Mary's Primary) - £50,000
* Eton/Eton Wick cluster (Eton Wick First, Eton Porny First) - £30,000
* Oakfield cluster (Oakfield First, The Lawns Nursery, Trevelyan Middle, Clewer Green First, Trinity St Stephen's First, Queen Anne First) - £5,000 (there will also be significant investment in a children's centre in this area)
* King's Court First - £5,000 to kick start a new cluster next year
* Furze Platt (Furze Platt Infant, Junior and Senior schools) - £7,000 to kick start a new cluster next year
* Cookham/Bisham cluster (Cookham Dean Primary, Cookham Rise Primary, Cookham Nursery, Holy Trinity Primary, Bisham Primary) - £5,000 for a parenting support project
* Cox Green cluster (Cox Green Secondary, Wessex Primary, Lowbrook Primary, Burchetts Green Infant, Knowl Hill Primary, Woodlands Park Primary, White Waltham Primary, Waltham St Lawrence Primary ) - £50,000 (with £15,000 ring fenced for use in rural schools)
* Larchfield/Boyne Hill cluster (Boyne Hill Infant, All Saints Junior, Larchfield) - £30,000.

There will be a special training course later in the summer to give schools the information and tools they need to launch their new extended services.

By 2010 the government expects that a range of core services will be in, or accessible through, all schools including high quality childcare, a wide range of extra-curricular, special interest and business activities, parenting support, swift and easy referral to a wide range of services and providing wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities, including adult learning.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Maidenhead Royal Borough schoolchildren will be waving the healthy flag and making their own banner headlines later this month as they once again put their best feet forward to mark Walk to School Week (May 22 – 26).

For the first time road safety officers will be providing several Maidenhead borough schools with large banners which they can display at the school gates, announcing their support for the annual event – as well as stickers, charts, posters, bookmarks and activities and ideas to help staff and pupils get into the "healthy" swing.

And it looks set to be another record-breaking year for walking to school activities as more Royal Borough schoolchildren than ever pledge their support for the ever-popular week and respond to the call to encourage walking.

Mums and dads who usually drive to school are being urged to join in by leaving the car in the garage and walking with their children – or even dropping them off a short distance from the school and walking the last part of the journey to ease parking congestion near the school gates.

Maidenhead Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for education, said: "Research shows that as many as one in five car trips during the morning rush hour involve the school run, with parents dropping their children at the school gates – leading to severe congestion outside school entrances.

"This naturally results in declining levels of child fitness and in many cases increasing levels of obesity. The fact that most families now own cars, alongside the concerns about road safety and pressures of time for working parents, mean that fewer and fewer children are walking to school these days.

"Walk to School Week is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to leave the car at home and enjoy each other's company as they walk to school – and might even get them thinking about making permanent changes to their travelling habits. Have a great time everyone – and let's hope the sun shines all week!"

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead traffic and transport: "I am delighted that our efforts in conjunction with schools, parents and teachers to encourage more children to walk (or cycle) to school are meeting with a great deal of success.

"Quite apart from the important health issues all of us have a job to do in the borough in terms of reducing traffic congestion which is at its worst between 7.30 and 830 every morning because of the school run."

Pupils are once again being encouraged to submit their entries for the popular Walk to School calendar competition which will feature Spike the Hedgehog demonstrating the benefits of walking to school. Spike will visit Boyn Hill Infant School in person on Friday May 19 at 9am to inspire budding young artists.

Other Walk to School Week activities include:

· St Mary's Primary School will hold an eco-week to promote the health and environmental benefits of walking to coincide with Walk to School Week - and on Monday May 22 more than 40 Year 6 pupils will don high-visibility tabards for a two-mile walk to Braywick Nature Centre.

· Alwyn Infant School, Homer First, St Luke's Primary, Ellington Primary and Furze Platt Infant schools have invited the road safety officer to hold pedestrian training workshops prior to or during Walk to School Week to enable pupils to practise their safe walking skills

· Holy Trinity School, Cookham, will run a Walking Bus during the week – a line of children walking in pairs along a set route with scheduled stops, with an adult "driver" at the front and a "conductor" at the back.*·

* Cookham Montessori Nursery School is to launch an innovative Park & Stride scheme – supported by road safety officers – on Tuesday May 23 in which parents will use the nearby church car park and then walk their children along the five-minute journey to the nursery school wearing high-visibility tabards supplied by road safety.

For more information about Walk to School Week contact Philippa Baxter, road safety officer, on 01628 796577.

Notes:

*There are three "full-time" walking buses in the Maidenhead Royal Borough – at Courthouse Junior School, Boyn Hill Infant School and St Edward's First School. For further information on setting up walking buses contact Philippa Baxter on 01628 796577.

Last year over 6,000 schools and more than 1.7million schoolchildren across the country took part in Walk to School Week.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Maidenhead Royal Borough is bitterly disappointed that the Michael Shanly Group has been given the go-ahead for its plans to decontaminate and remediate the toxic waste site it owns at Badnell's Pit, Maidenhead.

Planning inspector Rupert Grantham has allowed the Shanly appeal against Maidenhead council's decision to refuse the planning application, following a two-week public inquiry in March.

The news has been greeted with deep regret by Maidenhead Riverside ward councillors, who fought alongside local residents against the plan.

Maidenhead Cllr Pam Proctor said she was bitterly disappointed: "We put a strong case to the inquiry, based on the real concerns of local residents who are very anxious about the way the developer intends to carry out work on the site. The public inquiry did not bring any comfort in terms of issues like noise levels, health risks to the local community and the route to be used by the lorries travelling to and from the site."

Cllr Alison Napier said: "I share Cllr Proctor's bitter disappointment at the inspector's decision. Residents need to feel reassured that their welfare will be paramount in any plan to decontaminate the site but this level of reassurance has not come through loud and clear.

"Local people are still very suspicious of the developer's degree of commitment to their health and well-being and unfortunately the outcome of the public inquiry has not helped alleviate their fears. Residents remain unconvinced that the decontamination can be done safely."

Maidenhead Cllr Peter Herlinger said: "Despite the result, I felt a strong case was put by the council, residents and elected representatives. If the case had not been argued so vigorously no doubt costs would have been awarded against the council.

"The many conditions which have been imposed on the permission must be complied with by Michael Shanly in carrying out the development.

"In addition, the agreement submitted by Michael Shanly during the inquiry imposes an obligation on them to submit a new planning application for dwellings on the site within 12 months of the inspector's decision. With the housing restraint policies adopted recently by the council, it is by no means certain that an application for new houses would comply with the council's development policies."

The inspector's report allowing the Shanly appeal stated that:

· the available evidence leads the inspector to conclude that the proposed remediation would not result in an unacceptable risk of significant harm to human health and in particular to the health of local residents, given the mitigation measures that would be put in place
· though the remediation scheme would be noisy, the inspector is satisfied that all reasonable remediation measures would be taken to minimise that impact
· that subject to conditions the benefits of the proposed development are sufficient to outweigh the harm that might be cause by the scheme.

Maidenhead Cllr Vicky Howes, lead member for planning, said she was appalled by the outcome and said the council now needs to look very carefully at the detail of the report to seek the best way forward for local residents.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Expansion plans for the Waitrose store in Maidenhead has been given the green light by the Royal Borough, subject to the necessary legal agreements, and the decision has been warmly welcomed by local councillors.

Amended plans for the Maidenhead store extension and 14 new town centre flats were given the conditional approval by the Maidenhead development control panel last night (Wednesday May 10), paving the way for what has been described as "a vote of confidence in the town and its economic future".

Cllr Vicky Howes, lead member for Maidenhead town centre, said she was delighted that initial difficulties with the plan had been addressed successfully, opening the door to this much-looked-forward to investment in the centre of Maidenhead.

She said: "We are seeing increasing evidence of national and international businesses putting their money into Maidenhead and hopefully this will spin off into additional investment in this area of the town.

"I am delighted that Waitrose will not only be expanding their already successful store but also increasing the number of town centre homes. Along with Sainsbury's and the current improvements in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre, this is proof that Maidenhead can cut the mustard for economic success."

Cllr Simon Werner, deputy leader, said the council's strong partnership working with businesses and retailers aimed to send out positive messages about Maidenhead's vitality and viability. He added: "The Waitrose scheme will add to the quality and choice for shoppers in Maidenhead and demonstrate that we have a great deal to offer retail and business investors."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Owners of Maidenhead town centre eyesore Cressett Towers face court action if they don't clean up their property inside three months.

The Maidenhead Royal Borough has issued an enforcement notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requiring the owners to carry out a detailed list of work on their Maidenhead High Street building. The move follows recent government clarification and guidance on the use of these powers.

The notice takes effect from June 12 and if the work is not carried out within three months of that date Maidenhead council has the option of taking the owners to court (where they could face a substantial fine if found guilty) or organising for the necessary work to be done, with all the costs recovered through an action against the owners in the county court.

Maidenhead Cllr Vicky Howes, lead member for Maidenhead town centre, said the council's patience was exhausted: "We have continually put pressure on the owners and given them every opportunity to bring Cressett Towers up to scratch but without success. The enforcement notice is a clear signal that they must take responsibility for this shambles of a building which has been a blot on the landscape in Maidenhead town centre for far too long."

The enforcement notice requires the owners to carry out external repairs, cleaning and repainting, replace broken glass and remove all hoarding from the front of the building.

Maidenhead Cllr Howes said: "Ideally we want to see Cressett Towers brought back into use to add to the vitality of the town centre but in the meantime our aim is to get the exterior of the building put in order so that it is no longer a notorious local eyesore."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 21st May - 27th May 2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

21st May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:45 am
Lunchtime Concert: Galini Trio
* 3:00 pm
These Foolish Things (12A)
* 7:30 pm
These Foolish Things (12A)

22nd May at Maidenhead

No events planned

23rd May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Old Times

24th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Capote (15)

25th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:30 pm
Capote (15)
* 7:30 pm
Capote (15)
* 7:45 pm
Stories from Suburbia (work in progress)

26th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:45 pm
An Evening with the Jazz Warriors

27th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:30 pm
The Ignatius Trail
* 7:30 pm
The Proposition (18)
* 7:45 pm
Cabaret Night with Con Amore: The Roots of Broadway

A 'teed off' golf professional who came across what he suspected was a fake Odyssey club tipped off the manufacturers – and the result was a major Maidenhead trading standards haul in Holyport.

The seizure of over 100 counterfeit Odyssey and Taylor Made putters, a golf bag, Armani and Boss clothing, Tiffany jewellery and various handbags took place last Thursday (May 4).

Using information supplied by Callaway Golf (Odyssey brand is one of the Callaway Golf family of brands), Maidenhead Royal Borough's trading standards officers, accompanied by officers from Thames Valley police, visited the Holyport home allegedly used as the base for the business which sold the goods on the internet. Two people were arrested and subsequently bailed pending further inquiries.

Steve Johnson, Maidenhead trading standards manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted by the success of this operation. We worked closely with Callaway Golf, following a tip-off from a golf professional. We are currently looking into all the circumstances and the possibility of taking court action for offences under the Trade Descriptions Act and the Trade Marks Act.

"This case underlines the need for people to be extremely cautious before parting with their hard-earned cash. The message is: 'If the bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is' so buy from reputable dealers and guard against being taken in by people out to make a quick buck at the public's expense."

Neil Howie, Callaway Golf Europe managing director, said: "We would like to thank Windsor and Maidenhead trading standards and the police for their co-operation in this matter. Callaway Golf and the authorities are active in tracking down those who sell counterfeit golf clubs.

"In this case, it appears that putters were being bought from places such as China and then being sold on eBay for a profit. We recommend that golfers always buy from Callaway Golf Preferred Retailers, who are listed on our website: www.callawaygolf.com"

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Dance fans will soon be tapping into a new Maidenhead Royal Borough facility that's just a step away from opening its doors to pupils at Furze Platt Senior School and people from the wider community.

The dance studio, bringing opportunities for dance, fitness and fun for all ages, is the result of Maidenhead council's successful bid for a £320,000 award out of the Big Lottery Fund's £750 million New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme. This programme will create new and improved PE and sports facilities and funding to support community use of these services across England.

Curtain up for the studio is at 12 noon on Wednesday July 5 2006 when the Mayor, Maidenhead Cllr Margaret Cubley, will carry out the official opening by unveiling a plaque before watching a short dance performance by students of the Furze Platt Dance Group. In the meantime the studio will be tested by students at the school and public inquiries are also welcome.

The new facility features a 15 x 12 metre semi-sprung wooden dance floor, two store rooms, an accessible toilet and welcoming entrance foyer. It will be available not only for Furze Platt pupils but also for the wider community and bookings will be taken and co-ordinated through the school.

Cllr Richard Fagence, Maidenhead council's lead member for leisure and cultural services, said he was delighted by the addition of such a superb studio to the borough's growing list of joint school/community facilities. He added: "Schools are traditionally a central part of their communities and it makes perfect sense for facilities to be provided that serve a dual purpose for the good of both the students and the people who live in the area. The more we can do to encourage joint use the better and we are very grateful for Big Lottery support to enable us to make Furze Platt a local centre for access to dance, PE and sport for this thriving community."

Tanya White, headteacher at Furze Platt Senior School, said: "The school and local community are absolutely delighted with the new dance studio. It will go a long way towards meeting the great demand for dance and exercise facilities in the this area, raising standards of PE and sport and increasing local participation."

Alison Rowe, Big Lottery Fund head of south east region, outlined the benefits that funding will bring. She said: "This dance studio will be a vital resource for the school and community. Maidenhead Furze Platt Senior School is leading the way in this area – providing access to high quality dance and exercise opportunities to hundreds of users and developing a new role as a local hub for dance and PE.

"Our funding is changing the face of sporting provision in our schools and communities, providing many more young people with the opportunity to engage in a range of physical activities."

Bookings for the new dance studio can be made on the Furze Platt School booking line 01628 762128.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Satisfy those learning tastebuds later this month and try something new. That's the challenge to adults of all ages as the Maidenhead Royal Borough once again gears up to support this year's Adult Learners' Week (May 20 – 26).

Taster sessions in a wide variety of activities will be on the menu at centres across the borough, organised by the Maidenhead Royal Borough's Lifelong Learning team in support of the National Organisation for Adult Learning (NIACE).

Tuesday May 23 9–11.15am:
Woodlands Park Primary School, Heywood Avenue, Woodlands Park
· card making
· flower arranging
· Indian head massage
· manicure
· careers and job opportunities information.

Tuesday May 23 1–3pm
Broom Farm Community Learning Centre, Furness Way, Windsor
· design your own greetings card
· henna artwork
· manicure
· Arty Farty pottery painting
· careers information
· free crèche – to book please call Parwati Mistry on 01628 796584

Friday May 26 12noon - 3pm
Ellington Primary School, Cookham Road, Maidenhead
· beauty therapy
· ICT
· sewing
· arts and crafts exhibition
· careers and job opportunities information
· free crèche.

Thursday May 25 is Maidenhead Learning at Work Day. For more information about Learning at Work Day visit http://www.campaign-for-learning.org/campaigns/learningatwork/lawday/aboutlaw/about.htm

East Berkshire College is holding an open evening at its Maidenhead campus on Wednesday May 24 from 5 – 7pm to promote part-time courses. Information on community learning opportunities will be available from a stand staffed by members of the Learning Partnership in the Nicholson's Centre, Maidenhead, on Friday May 26 from 10am to 4pm.

For more information about Adult Learners' Week, as well as lifelong learning opportunities in the borough, contact Parwati Mistry in the Lifelong Learning team on 01628 796584 or go to the Royal Borough website at www.rbwm.gov.uk.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Maidenhead 15-year-old girl was indecently assaulted by a man as she walked home from school last week.

At 3.45pm on Friday 5 May, the girl was walking along an alleyway off Cannon Lane in Maidenhead when she noticed a man acting strangely.

She first noticed the male as he had stopped to put on a hat and sunglasses. He then started jogging. When he got level with the girl he then pushed her against a wall and inappropriately touched her.

The girl resisted the attack and shouted for help, causing the man to let go and run away. Although shocked and distressed, she was not physically injured.

The man was white, in his early thirties, 5ft 10ins to 5ft 11ins, medium build, with dark stubble on his face. He was wearing a blue/grey baseball cap and T-shirt, black jogging bottoms, white trainers and sunglasses.

Maidenhead PC Sophia Harrison, who is investigating the assault, said: “This was a very worrying incident in broad daylight. Officers have been visiting local schools to make them aware of the assault, and warnings have been sent to all Neighbourhood Watch members in the area.

“If anyone has any information that could assist us in our inquiries, I would urge them to contact police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Sophia Harrison on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Customer focus is at the heart of proposals to change the way the Maidenhead Royal Borough shapes up for the future delivery of services to the local Maidenhead community.

Restructuring of Maidenhead council will be discussed at a special cabinet meeting next Wednesday (May 17) when members will look at recommendations to reduce the current five directorates to three by logical grouping of services that link directly with the public. This would result in two strong directorates responsible for customer-facing services, with a smaller central directorate providing strategic direction and support.

One of the main reasons for taking a fresh look at how Maidenhead council is set up is the 2004 Children Act which says that councils must bring together all children's services . In the Royal Borough this means merging the education and social services directorate, along with the youth service (currently part of leisure, cultural and property services).

Maidenhead borough's own Delivering Excellence programme has also resulted in major changes to the way the council works, with the Customer Service Centre (CSC) opening last October and bringing together staff from over 15 services to provide easy access to information and advice for residents and customers.

The progress made with Delivering Excellence and now the changes to children's services allow the council to bring about a more even balance to its structure by proposing three streamlined directorates:

* learning and care (bringing together education, social services and youth services
* community services (incorporating planning and environment and many elements of leisure, cultural and property services)
* corporate services (primarily the current chief executive's directorate)

Maidenhead Cllr Mary Rose Gliksten, council leader, said the restructuring proposals suggested a way forward through grouping services together in a logical, joined-up way that focuses on customers' needs.

She said: "Over the past three years the Delivering Excellence programme has brought about increased efficiency and effectiveness in many areas. We have invested in modern technology throughout the authority and we are reaping the benefits of this in terms of much improved services for local people. All of this has laid solid foundations for what lies ahead

"Restructuring is the next big challenge as we respond to the national changes in children's services and also the need to tailor the council so it is best equipped to keep on delivering excellent services to our residents and customers."

David Lunn, Maidenhead chief executive, said: "Restructuring is a necessary part of equipping the council for modern provision of services and also for its increasing role of community leadership. Much of the current structure has been in place since we became a unitary authority in 1998 and is not best suited for the effective and efficient delivery of services to meet the changing needs of local residents or the national agenda for children's services."

The new learning and care directorate will not only cover all Maidenhead children's services, as required by the government, but also the adult care services currently provided by social services and all elements of education. This is because the relatively small size of the Royal Borough could not justify the creation of a separate directorate for children's services alone.

Both the learning and care and Maidenhead community services directorates will concentrate on providing services directly to residents and customers, while corporate services will focus on the central, legal, administrative and support services required across the council, as well as setting the borough's strategic direction.

If cabinet agrees, the proposals will go for decision to the council's employment panel, meeting immediately afterwards on May 17. If the employment panel gives the go-ahead it will allow recruitment to begin for the new director of learning and care.

The proposals are already out for consultation with all Maidenhead Royal Borough staff and partner organisations. Their feedback will be taken into account and a further report will go to cabinet on June 26. It is anticipated that implementation of the new structures will start in July, with the first focus being on the new learning and care directorate, which will feature two new area teams – Maidenhead and Windsor/Ascot – to take services closer to the communities they serve.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Maidenhead Gardens are set to grow even greener this year as Maidenhead Royal Borough residents discover the secrets of making perfect compost.

On Saturday May 13 council waste awareness officer Ankit Rao and Braywick Maidenhead countryside rangers will be joining forces for Braywick Compost Corner – the inside track on getting the right mix of kitchen and garden waste to make top quality food for plants and shrubs.

Part of Maidenhead Compost Awareness Week (May 7 – 13), the event is open from 12 noon to 4pm and geared for all ages. There will be lots of tips for composting successfully at home and fun activities for children, including the opportunity to make their own bottle wormery to take home! All children should be accompanied by an adult and should bring a washed 2 litre plastic drinks bottle.

There will be spot prizes for young composters, including recycled badges, fridge magnets, keyrings and pencils, while adults will have the chance to win one of six 330 litre compost bins absolutely free.

Cllr Simon Werner, lead member for Maidenhead public protection, said he hoped many borough residents would take advantage of this great opportunity to learn more about composting and getting their ingredients right.

He said: "Although 30% of borough waste is now being recycled, we can all do a lot more and we are looking for other ways to encourage residents to make their homes and gardens even more environmentally friendly. Gardening is one of the most popular pastimes and we want to get gardeners to go greener with their own composting bins.

"Composting is a great way of using kitchen and garden waste and reducing the amount of rubbish we send to landfill sites – and also the amount council taxpayers have to fork out for landfill tax, which has gone up another £3 a tonne this year."

More than 10,000 Maidenhead council-subsidised composters have been sold in the Royal Borough since 1997 and around 5,500 tonnes of green waste is currently collected for composting every year through the borough's green waste collection scheme.

Maidenhead Council-subsidised composters are still available for a discounted price of just £6, including delivery. Amazing value! Residents may order on line at www.getcomposting.co./wm or by calling the order hotline on 08451 130 60 90.

Organised by The Composting Association and supported by the Royal Borough, Compost Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of the benefits of composting. The theme of this year's event is Compost…Add power to your flowers.

DO compost:
· Uncooked vegetable peelings and fruit
· Hedge trimmings
· Grass clippings
· Leaves
· Scrunched up paper
· Tea bags and coffee grounds

Don't compost:
· Meat/bones
· Fish
· Dairy products
· Cooked food
· Coal ash
· Cat/dog litter/poo

Tips for top quality compost

* Put your compost bin in the garden on bare soil.
* Good compost needs the right mix of ingredients. Create a high carbon to nitrogen ratio – browns to greens. Dried flowers, woody stems and cardboard (browns) are high in carbon; fresh grass cuttings and kitchen waste (greens) are high in nitrogen.
* Composting works best if you add a lot of materials at once. Chop large items into small pieces to help speed up the process. Try to ensure your compost is moist but not wet. Add water if it is too dry, cover and add dry material if it is too wet.
* Every now and then introduce air into your bin either by using a garden fork to mix the material or add more scrunched up paper and card.
* To help speed up the composting process add a handful of soil, finished compost or a compost accelerator (young nettles are an excellent natural accelerator).
* Keep adding a good mixture of materials.
* Your compost will be ready to use when it resembles dark soil and has a sweet, earthy smell. This can take anywhere between 6 – 24 months.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Generous guests at the second annual Mayor's Charity Dinner in the Maidenhead Royal Borough earlier this year dug deep in their pockets to help keep the vital air ambulance service in the sky.

The dinner, held in February in Maidenhead Town Hall's Desborough Suite, raised almost £3,000 for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust (TVAC) and Mayor Cllr Eric Wiles will hand over the proceeds to Stevie Horton, director of fund-raising, at 11am on Wednesday May 17.

Maidenhead Cllr Wiles said he was deeply touched by the generosity of the guests and businesses who supported the charity dinner in aid of such a worthwhile cause.

He said: "The air ambulance depends on our support to keep it in the air and I am delighted that everyone who attended or supported the charity dinner has helped us raise such a handsome amount."

The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust was launched in June 1999 and now flies over 1,000 emergency missions every year. The trust is a charity which relies on sponsorship and donations to meet its annual running costs. The yellow Bolkow 105 helicopter operates in daylight hours seven-days-a-week, carrying a full range of life-saving and medical equipment and two fully-qualified paramedics.

Further information on the air ambulance service is available at www.airambulancetvac.org.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 14th May - 20th May 2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

14th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Alpana Sengupta’s Student Show

15th May at Maidenhead

No events planned

16th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Love and Other Fairy Tales

17th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Fairport Convention

18th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Kesh Piano Duo
* 7:45 pm
Stuart McLean: Home from the Vinyl Café

19th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Hidden (15)

20th May at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Pavee Lackeen (15)
* 8:00 pm
Natalie Haynes: Run or Die

Maidenhead Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault on a young boy, which happened on Monday (1/5) at approximately 2.45pm.

A nine-year-old Asian boy returned to Kidwells Park, Maidenhead, to pick up his coat where he had left it. As the boy approached the new area of the park by Cookham Road, he was attacked by a youth who was part of a large group and aged between 16 and 17 years old. The victim was sworn at before being assaulted, while the offender’s friends laughed before running off toward the Maidenhead Cookham Road.

The offending youth is white and was wearing a red baseball cap with a logo of a horse on the front, with black hair that was shaved at the sides in a zigzag pattern. He was tall and wore a black, short-sleeved shirt with blue baggy ripped jeans. He was also wearing two thick chains, one gold in colour and the other silver, and was carrying a skate board.

Maidenhead PC Alex Coyne, investigating officer, said: “This incident appears to have been unprovoked and is being treated as a racial incident.

“Incidents of this nature are treated very seriously and such behaviour will not be tolerated.

“This is an isolated incident carried out by an irresponsible youth who appears was trying to impress his peers.

“I would like to think that some members of the group, who did not take part in the incident but were there, would come forward with information as they thought it was totally out of order and it will play on their conscience.

“I would like to reassure people that the park is well policed by the council CCTV and town centre officers.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact PC Alex Coyne on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to talk to officers and don’t want to give your name, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Maidenhead Spring has sprung – it's official! To celebrate – and to mark Walk in the Woods Month - the Maidenhead Royal Borough's tree wardens are inviting residents to join them for a ramble through Park Wood and Inkydown Wood this Sunday (May 7) from 2 to 4pm.

Walkers will join the tree wardens and the borough's Countryside Rangers to explore the woodlands near Cookham Dean, Maidenhead which are looked after by the Woodland Trust – and learn more about woodland wildlife and management.

Tree wardens will be able to answer questions about trees and woodlands, and the rangers will be on hand to raise awareness about the conservation of the local wildlife that depends on special woodland habitats.

Refreshments will be available; families are welcome but the walk route is unsuitable for pushchairs, and dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

Walkers should met at the car park signposted from the A308 approximately half a mile south of the Bisham roundabout (map reference SU 853842). The walk is free but donations are welcomed.

For further information contact the Maidenhead Countryside Service on 01628 777440.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Fostering brighter Maidenhead futures – that's the theme of this year's Foster Care Fortnight which runs for the next two weeks (May 8 – 21).

The nationwide campaign – co-ordinated by the Fostering Network – is being supported in the Maidenhead Royal Borough with information sessions and displays to raise awareness of the need for more foster carers.

During the coming fortnight social workers from the borough's fostering and adoption team will be staffing a stall in the Nicholson's Centre in Maidenhead on Tuesday May 9 and Thursday May 18 to provide a wealth of information to anyone interested in finding out more about fostering.

On Thursday May 11, Saturday May 13 and Sunday May 14 information will be available at a stall at the Maidenhead Magnet Leisure Centre, and at a stall at Windsor Leisure Centre from Friday May 19 to Sunday May 21. Colourful displays will be set up in both Maidenhead and Windsor libraries during the fortnight featuring information about fostering

Cllr Pam Proctor, lead member for Maidenhead social services, said: "This year's theme of ‘fostering brighter futures' is so important to everyone involved in the fostering of children. Many of our loyal foster carers really are the unsung heroes and heroines of our communities, who provide a loving and supportive environment in which children and young people can thrive and develop.

"It is important that we recognise the vital role they play in the temporary care of some of our most vulnerable youngsters – and here in the Royal Borough we regularly recognise that commitment with long service awards which go some way to expressing
our thanks and appreciation.

"During this Foster Care Fortnight we want to get across the message that anyone can become a foster carer. You don't need to be a home owner, and age, income and marital status do not affect your ability to become a carer – you just need to be someone who would like to help make a difference to a young person's life."

Following Foster Care Fortnight there will be two information sessions held at Braywick Heath Nursery, Braywick Road, Maidenhead, on Wednesday June 7 from 7 – 9pm and Thursday June 8 from 1 – 3pm.

Foster carers in the Royal Borough provide care in a variety of settings:

· short break or respite fostering – providing much-needed breathing space for families by looking after a disabled child on a regular basis either at weekends or perhaps for a week during school holidays

· short term fostering – looking after a child for a few weeks while arrangements are being made for the child to be returned to their own home

· long-term fostering – providing a safe and supportive environment for children who cannot live at home while maintaining contact with the child's family if appropriate.

For further information about fostering contact Ros Whittaker, team manager, Maidenhead fostering and adoption team, on 01628 683138

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead